Is This "Christian Rock"?

Rev 9:3 "And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth..."

Christian Rock, an artform with a long and controversial history, has raised its ugly head once again, this time in the person of  four rock musicians who have the audacity to call themselves after the four Archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel.The band first surfaced in 2002 with their hit, "Fight the Devil." Sounds pretty Christian, right? But even a cursory reading of the song's lyrics reveal no victory over Satan, only a continual struggle! Apparently Angelrage hasn't heard about JESUS' once-and-for-all victory over sin and death. The song also seems to deny Satan as an actual entity, instead lamely identifying him as a series of earthly temptations. And still, legions of Christians clamour after this band as the next "Stryper".    The band's song's and album covers contain no mention of JESUS, but plenty of Satan. You will see him (dis)gracing nearly every Angelrage album cover! The lyrics contain not a single mention of Jesus, the cross, or salvation. The group, like it's secular counterparts, seems obsessed with the occult, violence, and death, with songs like "Angel Rage" and "Slaughter the Wicked". Their concerts are bloody spectacles steeped in blasphemous imagery. Many of their fans, in a sick display of idolatry, wear white to the shows in imitation of their heroes in hopes of getting "blood" on them. This has been alternately explained either as representing the blood of Christ, or the blood of the wicked which is to be shed during the battle of Armageddon. I guess we aren't supposed to know, because the band refuses to clarify the issue. This spraying of the crowd with blood has nearly caused riots in several venues, either by zealous fans pushing to get up front to get the blood all over themselves, or by panicked concert goers who tried to leave. They have already been banned in several places.

Although some of the group's lyrics appear to be  supported by scripture, they selectively use only the most violent passages, painting a picture of hopelessness and dispair. Not surprisingly, the band themselves do not officially claim to be a Christian act: in fact, they deny it. In one early interview, Raphael flippantly stated, "I sometimes wonder if there truly can be such a thing as Christian Rock." He went on to add, "I look at Christian Metal as a symptom of the times in which we live. It is an end times phenomenon." After defending the band's methods as a necessary evil, he flatly states, "As far as bands like Creed who don't want to be classified as a Christian band, that is their right; neither do we!" -(christianxtreme.com, 04/14/03)    Angelrage's inspiration is demonic in origin, as revealed in the same interview; when asked why the band used the names of the archangels, the guitarist explained, "It all came together very quickly, after all those years it was like a voice inside me just said, 'It is time.' We became the messengers." When describing his process for writing songs, he says, "To me, it isn't work at all, it flows like water. It's as if there is a radio station in my head. I hear the songs

Angelrage logo, supposedly a stylized angel. Do you see the fanged, horned visage of Satan? (mouseover)

already completed, with all the instruments, and I hurry and write it down before I lose it! (laughs) I always said, I didn't write this music. It was given to me. I just have to trust it."    In another interview Raphael once again states, "...we have never said we were a Christian metal band. A soundtrack for the tribulation, maybe." (metaljet.com 06/20/04)

Angelrage, L-R: Uriel, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel. Notice bandmember giving satanic salute.

The band's bio on their official website, angelrage.com, compares their music to some of secular rock's most blasphemous bands: Pantera, Cradle of Filth, KISS, Iron Maiden, White Zombie, Merciful Fate, and Black Sabbath. Interestingly, in addition to the band's four members, there was a fifth person pictured in their official website bio - Satan! Is the devil the secret member of Angelrage, the force from which they draw their admittedly non-Christian inspiration?

Disturbingly, the band's popularity shows no signs of waning, and they can seem to do no wrong in the eyes of their blood-splattered legions of fans. Their song Fight the Devil went #1 on MP3.com's Christian Metal charts, above established acts like King's X and Michael Sweet. Using a unique, fan-based approach via the internet, they have managed to make themselves known in nearly every country in the world. Their mission, they say, is to spread the "Baspel" (bad news) - the opposite of Jesus Christ's Gospel. Angelrage would rather fill the world with bad news instead of proclaiming victory in the name of JESUS. Is this the work of the Holy Spirit?    The band, like their predecessors, thrive on

The fifth member of Angelrage - Satan

controversy. In researching his interview with them, metaljet.com wrote, "I recognized the name right away, for I had a very strange experience with it. While making the list for The War, I visited both Christian and Black Metal link lists. Angelrage was listed on both types of sites and I had them listed on both sides of my page!" (metaljet.com 06/20/04) This duality seems to be at the core of what Angelrage stands for.

Capitalism is also apparently very close to these "angels" hearts, as witnessed by the merchandise on their website. In addition to the obligatory concert T-shirts, complete with devil head logo and blood spots, which the concert goer is invited to bring to the show to "complete the look" (i.e. get splattered with blood), the site offers such wholesome items as women's thongs, camilsoles, and, most nauseating, a children's teddy bear with the band's logo emblazoned across it's front.    Perhaps there is another expanation for Angelrage's obsession with blood: "There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES

Official Angelrage Concert T-Shirt, complete with blood splatters.

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus." - Revelation 17:3-6   In the ultimate act of demonic-inspired blasphemy, Angelrage, bringers of the anti-gospel, spit that blood right back in the face of those who would follow them.    According to those in the know, Raphael is actually a fallen Christian who started out with good intentions but turned against God after his 1997 car accident and decided to turn his Christian rock band into the ultimate blasphemy.    The creator of Angelrage has been quoted as saying that ever since his accident, street lights go out when he walks under them. This sounds like a classic manifestation of demonic possession! Jesus said let your light shine before all men, but the power behind Angelrage is a power that extinguishes light.    These "angels" now expect Christians around the world to accept their message as inspired by God? Come out of her, my people! This band is just another attempt to mock the precious name of JESUS and cheat Christians out of their hard earned money. There is nothing "Christian" about Angelrage. They can't save you, only

Like the great whore, Angelrage is drunk with the blood of the saints...

JESUS can! The blood of Angelrage is a mockery of the precious blood of Christ! Their blood can't wash your sins away, only the blood of JESUS, shed at calvary can do that.

If you don't know JESUS and want to recieve him as your savior, you can say a prayer something like this: "JESUS, I know that I am a sinner. I know that the just punishment for my sins would be death. JESUS, I believe that You died in my place. Forgive me for my sin. You are the only one who can save me. I reject my sin, I turn away from it, I repent. Come into my life, take away my sin, and show me how to live my life in a way that is right and pleasing to You."    If you prayed that prayer with all your heart, JESUS is coming into your life right now, and the Holy Spirit will show you how to live a Christian life pleasing to God. Find a church in your area that teaches Bible based doctrines, where you can meet and learn from others in Christian fellowship. God bless you!

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